Kelly Cooper, the Republican candidate for Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, participated in a one-on-one discussion Sept. 30 to go over what he sees are issues within the district.
His Democratic counterpart, Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton, declined to participate in what would have been a debate held by the Clean Elections Commission.
Addressing Stanton’s absence, Cooper said it was unfortunate he did not attend. He said he would’ve liked to talk with the Democratic candidate about a number of issues including the rising cost of living, growing crime rates, the border crisis and how his policies have impacted the current state of the district.
“He chose not to talk to the voters of this district, and I will always choose to not only talk to, but listen to, the voters in this district,” Cooper said.
Cooper’s resulting solo discussion with moderator Steve Goldstein delved into his positions on issues such as border security, rising inflation, abortion, foreign policy and homelessness.
“Transparency is critical here. That’s why this conversation has been designed with input from a broad group of journalists in Arizona representing urban and rural communities,” Goldstein said.
Cooper received the Republican Party nomination in the July 30 primary election, beating out Dave Giles, Jerone Davison and Zuhdi Jasser. He is a restaurant owner and U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Chandler.
Highlights from Cooper’s debate included his ideas for a comprehensive plan to address the border crisis from securing the border to immigration reform, how a more balanced budget would combat inflation and his stance on abortion.
Clarifying his position, Cooper said abortion is a difficult and challenging topic, but at his core, he does not believe the federal government belongs in doctor’s offices or people’s homes.
“The challenge of what abortion is and what abortion means, I think that’s one that’s unique to each individual and their doctor,” he said.
He did note it will be up to Arizona voters to decide what their tolerance is when it comes to protecting the right to abortion in the coming election, but Cooper did hold that this is not an issue for a federal representative to decide on.
Goldstein then asked the Republican candidate if he would support members of the Republican caucus if the majority wanted to fully ban abortion federally, despite his personal stance on the issue.
Cooper emphasized one of the significant differences between him and Stanton is that he is not a “party politician.”
Cooper said he is loyal to the voters of CD 4, not the members of the Republican Party. If confronted with an issue like abortion, he would continue to vote based on the district’s desires and not be influenced by his party members.
“As I said from the beginning, as I will say now, my loyalty lies with the voters in this district, and I will represent what the majority believe in,” Cooper said.
Meet Caroline Caroline Yu joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2020 as a summer intern covering Scottsdale. As an intern, she continued her coverage of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Tempe. After graduating in 2022, Caroline became a full-time reporter for Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. She is currently reporting for the Tempe market.
Community: She is a supporter of the environment and tries to get involved with related community events.
Education: Arizona State University with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications, with a minor in French.
Random Fact: She used to be a ballet dancer for 10 years.
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